May. 14, 2018

BUSINESSWIRE PRESS RELEASE

Vizient Voices Concern that Proposed Tariffs on China Could Negatively Affect the U.S. Health Care Industry

BUSINESSWIRE PRESS RELEASE

Vizient Voices Concern that Proposed Tariffs on China Could Negatively Affect the U.S. Health Care Industry

BUSINESSWIRE PRESS RELEASE

Vizient Voices Concern that Proposed Tariffs on China Could Negatively Affect the U.S. Health Care Industry

May. 14, 2018

https://www.apnews.com/b017b379fddf460f84c9011e296fa5b4

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IRVING, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 14, 2018--Vizient today shared its concerns with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) on the recently proposed policies and tariffs against Chinese products. While Vizient is supportive of USTR actions that would reduce or eliminate the unfair acts, policies and practices that China uses against the United States, we are also concerned that current USTR proposals would unintentionally result in higher prices for products and services being paid by our nation’s hospitals, patients, and all American taxpayers

The acquisition process for the health care supply chain is incredibly complex, as it involves thousands of suppliers selling millions of pharmaceuticals, devices, products, and services to providers. The proposed tariffs would include dozens of product components used by U.S. medical device manufacturers. The tariffs would also affect raw ingredients for drugs such as insulin, epinephrine and vaccines as well as syringes, pacemakers and many items critical for patient care. Vizient is concerned that the USTR proposals could result in higher prices for products and services being paid by providers, patients, and all American taxpayers; and more importantly, could potentially negatively impact patient care.

Vizient respectfully requests that the Trade Representative continue working with health care industry stakeholders to take steps to ensure that the final list of products subject to the proposed additional duties does not adversely impact the health care industry – specifically the costs to our nation’s hospitals, patients, and taxpayers.

Vizient, Inc., the largest member-driven health care performance improvement company in the country, provides innovative data-driven solutions, expertise and collaborative opportunities that lead to improved patient outcomes and lower costs. Vizient’s diverse membership base includes academic medical centers, pediatric facilities, community hospitals, integrated health delivery networks and non-acute health care providers and represents approximately $100 billion in annual purchasing volume. The Vizient brand identity represents the integration of VHA Inc., University HealthSystem Consortium and Novation, which combined in 2015, as well as MedAssets’ Spend and Clinical Resource Management (SCM) segment, including Sg2, which was acquired in 2016. In 2018, Vizient again received a World’s Most Ethical Company designation from the Ethisphere Institute. Vizient’s headquarters are in Irving, Texas, with locations in Chicago and other cities across the United States. Please visit www.vizientinc.com as well as our newsroom, blog, Twitter, LinkedIn and YouTube pages for more information about the company.